Posted on July 20, 2018
My name is Wael Khalil, I am a mechanical engineer and I run the Berytech Fab Lab. I just came back from a very interesting week in France where I joined members of more than 1200 Fab Labs at the FAB14. I am also very proud to announce that I officially graduated the Fab Academy, and the ceremony was held during one of the biggest events dedicated to fabrication laboratories in the world!
On the 14 & 15 of July FAB14 Distributed was happening in 7 different regions of France, each for a particular topic. I joined the Agrofood conference in Albi with the Agrytech Program Manager Fadi Naffah. We had the chance to learn about the different methods of urban food production, and how the Fab Lab can play a major role in its advancement.
We participated in several mini-conferences and round tables discussing how Fab Labs are helping to create greener, self-sufficient, frugal innovations for food, agriculture and urban farming. Fadi led a talk in how the Fab Lab can activate entrepreneurs to realize breakthrough technologies that can disrupt many businesses. His talk focused on the agriculture sector and how it is being disrupted to cater for the growing need of the world population using technologies such as drones, robotics, IoT, AI and blockchain.
Our stay in Albi was completed by a tour of the local market and visits to the nearby farmers and local vineyard producers, where we were introduced to the different innovative techniques they use to enhance the efficiency and quality of their products.
After Albi, we joined Ramy Boujawde our Deputy General Manager in the FAB14+ main event in Toulouse with “Fabricating Resilience” as the central topic. This event gathered people and makers from the global Fab Lab network to debate, share new ideas and projects, build Fab Lab networks and form a global knowledge network.
The conference was truly insightful. We met with makers and Fabbers (you get this cool name if you are part of the Fab Lab network!) from all over the globe, made new contacts, and received advice from professionals who have been in the industry for a long time now. Workshops at the conference covered a wide variety of topics spanning from technical workshops that taught how to build or design a specific product to workshops that shed light on previous experiences of different Fab Labs, including both success stories, mistakes and lessons learned.
One workshop discussed how Fab Labs are important to society, industries, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Another discussed how governments can take advantage and boost the maker movement in their countries.
Some particularly interesting workshops we attended included:
In short, we learned that the various issues that we face at the Berytech Fab Lab are commonly faced by Fab Labs globally, including sustainability and lack of governmental support. Experts presented their past experiences, showing a list of lessons learned and various models and plans that we can use to make the Fab Lab more sustainable and efficient in the society it is operating in. Most importantly we learned the power of being part of a supportive, collaborative global community.
I have to admit that the best moment of the Fab14 was the Fab Academy graduation. I had followed a rigorous 5-month digital fabrication program that the Fab Academy offered to makers in Beirut through the Berytech Fab Lab, part of the international Fab Lab Network. The diploma gives me a great advantage while working at the Berytech Fab Lab, but also the knowledge offered by the course can be applied to any profession requiring rapid prototyping.
Remember that I will be in the Fab Lab to personally assist you in using the lab to create any prototype, in hardware or electronics. If you are a passionate maker, you can join the Berytech Fab Lab and the international Fab Lab community. You can also take your making skills to the next level by joining the next cycle of the Fab Lab Academy.
About the Writer – Wael Khalil
Wael is a Mechanical Engineer with wide experience in Digital Design & Fabrication. He has a diverse engineering background with valuable experience in the electromechanical industry, including pipe manufacturing and equipment installation for oil & gas and pump station projects. In addition, he is proficient in using most advanced CAD designing tools and programming software available in the market. Wael also has technical experience in operating and controlling a wide range of digital fabrication tools and equipment including but not limited to Laser Cutters, 3D printers, and CNC machines.